[Expression of nestin in human kidney and its clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression and significance of nestin (a type of cytoskeletal protein) in normal and diseased human kidneys.


METHODS
Diseased kidney tissues were obtained from needle biopsies in 32 patients with glomerulonephritis (including 8 cases of membranous glomerulopathy, 3 cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, 17 cases of IgA nephropathy with proteinuria and 4 cases of IgA nephropathy without proteinuria). Control kidney tissues were obtained from nephrectomy specimens for renal tumors. The expression of nestin in the control kidney tissues was studied using immunoelectronic microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The expression of nestin in the diseased kidney tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
In normal kidney tissues, nestin was detected at the periphery of glomerular capillary loops. Semi-quantitative morphometric analysis showed that the glomerular nestin expression level in cases of IgA nephropathy without proteinuria did not differ from that in the normal controls. However, the glomerular nestin expression levels in cases of IgA nephropathy with proteinuria, membranous glomerulopathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were significantly lower than those in the normal kidneys and IgA nephropathy without proteinuria. The glomerular nestin expression levels inversely correlated with the 24-hour urine protein results.


CONCLUSIONS
Nestin may play an important role in maintaining the normal function of podocytes in human kidney.
Su
Wei
W
Department of Nephrology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. hnswei@yahoo.com.cn
Fang
Cheng
C
Yang
Hai-Chun
HC
Gu
Yong
Y
Hao
Chuan-Ming
CM
D000328:Adult; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism
D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin